Central Asia is a missing link in analyses of critical materials for the global clean energy transition

The energy transition is causing a surge in demand for minerals clean technologies, giving rise to concerns about the sources and security of supplies critical materials. Although Central Asia was one Soviet Union's main metals industrial minerals, it has been forgotten contemporary global materials analyses. Here we review Asian mineral resource base assess its current potential contributions supply chains. We find that importance lies mainly diversity base, which includes mineable reserves most applications. This renders region important economics, supply, geopolitical perspectives alike. In sum, likely become new hotspot extraction major supplier selected technologies. As world transitions from fossil fuels renewable energy, landscape will also be transformed. 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